LIVE BLOG: Tech vs. USC
Some thoughts and notes. Game starts 2 p.m. ET on CBS.
1. I think Tech will enjoy considerable support from the Sun Bowl crowd, which is largely made up of locals. After the 16,000 tickets allocated to the participating schools, the other 34,000 are sold to the El Paso community. As you may have read, USC stirred up controversy by showing up late for a Sun Bowl dinner and with two tweets sent by players criticizing the city of El Paso, which I’m going to guess has not sat well with residents. Further, Tech’s coaches and players have done nothing but rave about how welcome they feel and are enjoying the experience (which I think is genuine).
2. Weather: It’s sunny and very windy. The forecast calls for winds 20-30 mph, and it certainly feels like it. The wind right now (12:30 ET) is blowing briskly to the south, I think. Left to right on the television, at any rate.
Watching warmups, David Scully and Chris Tanner had trouble hitting from 45 going into the wind. Scully, at least, has range probably 10 yards longer than that. He crushed one from 55 with the wind.
3. If Tech gives up 35 points, the team will have the highest points-per-game allowed average going back at least to 1948. The 1999 team, which went 8-4 in Joe Hamilton’s final season, gave up an average of 30.3 points. Tech’s average through the ACC Championship game is 29.9.
4. There are two current Jackets who share Tech bowl records – Tevin Washington (completion percentage, 11-15 against Utah, tied with Shawn Jones in the 1991 Citrus Bowl) and Quayshawn Nealy (longest interception return, 74 yards, against Utah, tied with W.P. McHugh in the 1947 Oil Bowl)
5. Tech will wear blue jerseys, gold helmets, white pants.
6. The line is down to seven or 7.5 points in favor of USC. It had opened around 10. I’d guess Matt Barkley’s being ruled out played a big part in the drop.
7. Interesting – at 7-5, USC is still No. 20 in Sagarin ratings, presumably because their strength of schedule is ranked 13th. Tech is 63rd. Strength of schedule is 55th.
8. Tech marching band is here. Hopefully the altitude won’t affect the brass section.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy the game.
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892 comments Add your comment
George Stein
December 31st, 2012
5:06 pm
Keep it up, defense.
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
5:06 pm
47,ooo plus at game.
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:06 pm
Only thing Jackets and Dawgs agree on is we all agree Kiffin sucks.
GTAE70
December 31st, 2012
5:06 pm
Okay GTJohn, I changed
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
5:06 pm
Ill be happy to eat my words in 13 min and 4 secs of game time
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
5:07 pm
13 mins..hope it moves fast
CT_Jacket
December 31st, 2012
5:07 pm
No letting up with a 2 TD lead in the fourth.
Atlanta Mom
December 31st, 2012
5:08 pm
Jeez- the announcers are talking about GT effort. Don’t you talk about “effort” when a team is losing?
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:08 pm
USC SPIRIT IS BROKEN!!!!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:08 pm
D is playing and the O is controlling the clock……….It is working great right now.
GTAE70
December 31st, 2012
5:08 pm
Any word on attochu?
Gov
December 31st, 2012
5:09 pm
fun to watch USC and Lame Kitten flame out
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
5:09 pm
But, remember, trojans are WITHOUT Barkley and their No. 1 reciver.
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
Not wise to field that punt. i think he made the FC signal and then LOST where he was on the field once the tracked the ball down.
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
I am suprised he caught that and not let it go out of bounds
Flak Jacket
December 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
Go Jackets, win this bowl game ,fire Paul Johnson,get KW and move on.We can`t run the triple option forever.
GTAE70
December 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
Ken, you gone to Las Vegas or something?
GTJohn
December 31st, 2012
5:11 pm
OK John, I’ll switch to GTJohn2.
Sorry for the insults.
MrPhoenix
December 31st, 2012
5:11 pm
Hey notella, we can do without you. HA
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:11 pm
We’re keeping him out of the second half so he won’t take a swing at someone and blow the game.
Hey, ya’ll can stay on Tevin’s back forever.
Until he gives me an all ACC season, I’m staying on his.
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:11 pm
Iluvnutella…………..Hey STUPID……………LEE is the USC and nations #1 WR try again.
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
5:11 pm
@5:09..remember all you wish thats part of the game.
Stinger1
December 31st, 2012
5:11 pm
Absolutely love the way the defense has stepped up ! Of 13 is not helpmg USC much!!!!!
Dog kicker
December 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
Look @ the eyes of USC quarterback, I love it
CT_Jacket
December 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
I wouldn’t say this gets Kelly the DC job. FSU and USC, with Wittek, are limited offensively. However, he is a known entity. Unless there is a NFL DC with college experience available, I’d take them.
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
Let’s grind this out TECH!!!!!!!! Tech can do it!!!!!!
Wrong
December 31st, 2012
5:13 pm
They are only missing Barkley. Are you even watching the game?
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:13 pm
Tevin did not shy away from that contact.
MrPhoenix
December 31st, 2012
5:13 pm
Hey Jacket Dick, the ACC season is over.
GTJohn
December 31st, 2012
5:13 pm
To annoucers,
I guess not
Dog kicker
December 31st, 2012
5:13 pm
FIRST DOWN!
OwlMan
December 31st, 2012
5:13 pm
Up 21-7, fourth quarter would make another Johnson bowl loss not good for the “self-described” coaching genius, who looks hard for ways to lose. Anyone gonna be surprised when Johnson botches this one?
Paulie Nads
December 31st, 2012
5:14 pm
Why field the ball at the 4 yard line????????????????????? IDIOT!
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:14 pm
Smash mouth football in your face USC
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:14 pm
Are the ANNOUNCERS really that SAD USC is sucking? Vern and Gary are just crying they can’t put on their Condoms on their TROJAN hard ons.
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:14 pm
He’ll be back, Mr Pho.
I’m staying on his back until he makes up for costing us the 2011 VT game.
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
5:14 pm
another BS call
GTJohn
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
“But, remember, trojans are WITHOUT Barkley and their No. 1 reciver.”
SO?
MrPhoenix
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
LASKEY
DawgNole
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
Tech’s guttin’ ‘em now. Kickin’ butt!
Stinger1
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
LOVE THE BLUE UNI’ S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP IT UP
45 ACP
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
USC is done. Jackets running all over them.
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
Look at that blocking.
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
Hey idiots when does a starting QB play Defense,,,,,,???????? shut up idiots and watch Tech give this beat down!
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
ZACK………………………White Boy ZACK LASKEY………………..Debra Lackey Griggs is going nuts for that run
1990_Champs_GT
December 31st, 2012
5:16 pm
Sorry, UOAD, you can’t hide the truth.
I’m too proud to accept that Johnson is the best we can get. I’m too proud to feel that this is the best we can do.
And I’m too proud to be a fan that takes pride in this season.
WHISKEY CLEAR
December 31st, 2012
5:16 pm
lets finish the drill boys!
MrPhoenix
December 31st, 2012
5:16 pm
GOD KNOWS MONTE,YOU SURE ARE UGLY
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:17 pm
All u Vad fans need to come out of your basement and buy some tickets for next year.
Just blogging every week makes for a pretty lame fan.
Jimmy Crack
December 31st, 2012
5:17 pm
Flaccid Trojans. Their offense can barely penetrate Tech’s defensive walls, and their exposed defense is being stretched beyond its bursting point.